Automatic pistol.



A. R. MARTIN.

AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV. 13.1911.

1,294,506. Patented Feb. 18,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. R. MARTIN.

AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1911.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V hw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIE R. MARTIN, OF STONEFOBT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO J. V. TRAMMELL, 0F STONEFORT, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed November 13, 1917. Serial No. 201,830.

'Stonefort; in thercounty of Williamson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic P1stols, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to firearms and has special reference to that type of arms which are automatically reset after being fired. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as embodied in a pistol but it may be embodied in other forms of arms as will be readily understood. The invention has for its object the provision of a simple, compact and sightly gun in which the number of working parts will be minimized so that the weight of the arm and the cost of production will be decreased while at the same time the rapidity of fire and its effectiveness will be increased. The invention resides in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pistol constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations showing the. position of the parts immediately after firing and immediately after the recoil, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a detail breech block;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a portion of the breech block, looking at the same in the opposite direction to that in which Fig. 4 is viewed;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one side plate of the breech block;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the trigger and sear with the coacting parts,

perspective view of the separated but approximately in their proper relative positions;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the safety device;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a lever or locking bar arranged to cooperate with the safety device;

Fig. 10 is a detail the lifter;

Fig. 11 is a.

perspective view of detail perspective view of one side plate of the frame.

My improved firearm comprises a barrel 1, a magazine 2 arranged below and parallel with the barrel, and a stock or frame 3 which supports and may be rigidly connected to the rear ends of the barrel and magazine by welding or any other practical method or means. The stock or frame has a removable side plate 4 which is secured to the frame by screws or similar fastenings disposed at convenient points, and in the lower portion of the frame is formed a trigger guard 5 within which the trigger may be manipulated. Within the magazine 2 is a plunger or follower 6 which is automatically projected toward the rear end of the magazine by a spring 7 coiled within the front end of the magazine and disposed between the follower and a plug or other closure 8 secured in the front extremity of the magazine. A centering pin 9 is provided in the magazine to support the forward portion of the spring and retain it in the proper operative relation to the follower. The cartridges, indicated at 10, are placed in the magazine through the rear end thereof and as the'firearm is operated will be automatically and successively fed to and through the rear end of the magazine and then raised and placed in position in the rear end of the barrel.

The frame or stock is provided with a post or web 11 rising near but in spaced relation to the rear end of the magazine so as to define a lifting chamber 12 in which the lifter 13. may operate,- the upper portion of the said web 11 being slotted or otherwise provided with an opening, indicated at 1 1, through which the lifter may extend. and at the upper rear portion of the CllFlIlI- her is a transverse lug or stop 15 which arrests the rearward travel of the cartridge. as shown clearly in Fig. 2. and also extends across the pan of a stop finger 16 rising from the rear end of the lifter so that when the said stop finger impinges against the lug, as shown in Fig. 2. the lifter will lie in a plane substantially flush with the lower wall of the magazine so that a cartridge 1 tween the under side of the lifter andthe lower portion of the frame and tends constantly to raise the lifter so that upon removal of the force by which the lifter is held depressed the lifter and the cartridge thereon will be raised and the cartridge moved into position to be fed into the barrel. This position is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The upper portion of the frame is open and is constructedon one side with a longitudinal shoulder which forms a guide for one side f the breech block, the guide on the opposite side of the frame being provided by the upper edge of the removable side plate 4. The breech block comprises side plates 20 and 21 carrying the breech block proper 22 between their front ends and having their upper longitudinal edges projecting slightly above the block so as to engage and be guided by the grooved side edges of a top plate 23 of the frame. The block 22 is provided in its upper portion with a socket, indicated at 24, which houses the forward portion of a coil spring 25 playing between the base or front end of said socket and an abutment 26 furnished by the rear portion of the frame S, a centering pin 27 being secured in the said abutment andextending forwardly therefrom so as to support the spring 25, said pin being housed within the socket 21k in the rearmost position of the breech block. In the lower portion of-the' breech block is housed the firing pin 28 which is sodisposed that when projected it will strike the cartridge at the proper point to fiie the same. This firing pin is normally held in its rearmost position by a spring 29 housed within a socket or bore of the breech block and bearing' at its front end against the front .end of the socket or bore and at its rear end against an enlarged head 30 on the firing pin, a stop pin 31 being carried by the block and playing in a slot 32 of the head 30 so as to limit the movement of the firing pin in either direction. On the under side of the breech block and at therear end thereof is a depressing lug or knob 33 having a beveled front side so that in the forward wvill be held depressed or lowered during the firing action and until after the block has started to more rearwardly under the force of the recoil.

be fed into the barrel.

As the block movesrearwardly the lifter spring 19 williexert its force so thatthe lifter will be raised and a fresh cartridge moved into position to The bottom of the breech block is reduced longitudinally at one side, as shown at 34, (see Fig. 4) so as to ride over a kicking pin 35 which is carried by the removable side plate 4 at the upper edge of the same and is adapted to engage the rear end of the empty shell, below the center of the same, as the said shell is withdrawn from the barrel during the rearward movement of the breech block. The side plate 20 may be integral with the breech block but the side plate 21 ispreferably removable, as shown in Fig. 4;, and in a longitudinal recess 36 on the-inner side of the said plate at the front end thereof is secured an extracting spring or finger 37 having a hooked front end 38 which is adapted to engage the rim of the cartridge so that when the breech block moves rearwardly under the force of the recoil the empty shell will be withdrawn from the barrel until it strikes against the kicking pin 35 whereupon it will be deflected laterally and discharged through the open upper portion of the frame. During the firing operation, the opening in the upper portion of the frame is filled and covered by the breech block and the side plates 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 1, but when the pistol is fired the recoil overcomes the force of the spring 24 and causes the block to move rear wardly, thereby uncovering the upper portion of the frame to permit discharge of the shell. To cooperate with the eXtract+ ing finger 37 a supporting lug 39 is provided on the front end of the firing block to bear against the rim f the shell at a point approximately diametrically opposite the finger 37, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that the shell will be held against lateral movement during'its rearward travel until it impinges against the kicking pin 35 whereupon the hook 38 will serve as a pivot about which the shell may be swung to be ejected. This arrangement insures the shell being always ejected at the right side'of the firearm and prevents interference with the fresh cartridge which is being fed to the barrel.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that when a cartridge is raised by the lifter said block, so that upon the forward movement of the block the cartridge will be moved forwardlly and pushed into the bar rel; the rear extremity of the barrel being provided with a slight recess 40 to accommodate the extracting finger 37 so that the said finger may engage around the rim of the cartridge while the same is in the proper firing position. In order that the cartridge may be properly guided into the barrel and prevented from rising to such a point that it will not properly enter the barrel, I provide the stop and guide lugs 41 and 42 on the fixed side wall of the frame 3 and on the removable plate 4, respectively, these lugs being located at the upper end of the lifting chamber 12 and adapted to bear against the opposite sides of the cartridge. These lugs are preferably formed on the rear ends of small leaf springs which are seated in recesses in the side plates in order that they may yield to and offer no obstruction to the forward movement of the cartridge.

The removable side plate is provided with a longitudinal'slot which is disposed in alinement with the magazine and so located that a cartridge inserted laterally through the same will rest upon the lifter and may be slid forwardly therefrom into the magazine. This slot is normally closed by a plate 43 hinged or pivoted at its front end in'the side plate 4. and equipped at its rear end with a spring latch 44 adapt-ed to lockingly engage the adjacent edge of the slot. In order that the breech block may be held retracted when it is desired to clean the weapon or to examine some of the working parts the side plate 20 is provided with a notch 4:5 in its lower edge, and in the side plate 4 I mount a latch 46 which is adapted to engage said notch and thereby hold the slide retracted. The latch will preferably be spring controlled so that it will be normally held out of engagement with the notch'and below the plane of movement thereof and consequently will not interfere with the normal operation.

\Vithin the frame or stock 3, in rear of the web 11, the hammer 47 is mounted in such position that its upper end may strike against the rear end of the firing pin and thereby propel the same forcibly against the cartridge so as to fire the same. The hammer is ivoted at its lower end which is substantia' ly arcuate and concentric with the pivot and provided with a transverse shoulder, indicated at 48, adapted to be engaged by the forward end of a sear 49 whereby the hammer may be held in cocked position and be revented from striking the firing pin untll released by manipulation of the trigger. The upper end of the hammer will. of course. project between the side plates 20 and 21 and lie in the path of the block 22 when it is in the firing position so that upon the recoil of the said block the hammer will be returned to cocked position, as indicated in Fig. 3. and will beheld in said position until the sear is again released by the manipulation of the trigger. A hammer pin 50 is pivotally attached at its front end to the hammer above the ivot thereof and extends rearwardly there rom within the frame through a stop plate or bridge 51, as shown, a spring 52 being coiled around said pin between the said bridge or stop plate and a shoulder or other stop 53 adjacent the front end of the pin. The bridge 51 is disposed transversely of the stock or frame and has its opposite edges seated in notches 54 provided in the upper and lower walls of the stock, the tension of the spring 52 being regulated by engagin the bridge in the proper notches, a plura ity of which are provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and as will be readily understood. When the hammer is moved to cocked posit-ion the spring is placed under tension and when the hammer is released the spring will at once expand and throw the hammer forcibly against the firing pin. The sea-r 49 is pivotally mounted between its ends in the frame or stock and has its front end or toe bearing against the lower end of the hammer under the influence of a sear spring 55 which is provided in the frame or stock below the sear and bears against the under side of the toe thereof so that the latter will be held constantly against the hammer and will move into engagement with the transverse shoulder 48 thereon immediately upon said shoulder clearing the sear. The rear end or heel of the sear is disposed adjacent the upper side of the trigger 56 which is slidalbly mounted in the lower wall of the stock or frame and is provided with a finger rest 57 within the guard 5, the said guard being provided with a, guiding surface 58 whereby to aid in holding the trigger to its proper path; during its manipulation. The trigger is normally held ejected by a spring 59 which is disposed within a socket of the trigger and bears against a plunger 60 which is retained in the upper forward end of the said socket by a pin 61 secured transversely in the frame and extending through a notch or open-ended slot 62 in the inner end of the trigger. The trigger is thus yieldably held in its lower position and is also guided in its movement. To limit the outward movement of the trigger. a stop 63 is provided on its upper side and adapted to impinge against the lower wall of the frame, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Above the stop shoulder 63. the trigger is provided on its upper side with a releasing shoulder 6t which is adapted to engage the heel of the sear and thereby swing the same about its pivot so that the hammer will be released. The shoulder (i-l has its upper or inner face disposed at a right angle to the surface of the trigger. but its lower face is concave. as clearly shown. so'that upon the outward movement of the trigger the said shoulder will ride over the end of the sear and clear the same. To accommodatethis outward movement of the &

trigger, a tooth or pawl is slidably mounted in the heel of the sear and is held normally in position to be engaged by the shoulthe sear and serving to prevent the-tooth or 10 pawl .bein thrown from the sear under the action of t e spring. On the outward movement of the trigger, the shoulder 6& will overcome the force of the spring 66 so that the tooth will yield to and withdraw from the path of the shoulder 64 and permit the trigger to slide easily to its normal pos1t1on. As this tooth or pawl will receive, all the wear it will not be necessary to provide an entire new sear when the tooth is worn excessively through long-continued use.

Inorder that the weapon may be examined in safety and without liability of cartridges bein exploded, I provide a safety device by W ich the firing mechanism may be locked against movement. This safety device comprises a locking lever 70 which has its ends disposed in angular relation to each other and ispivoted w1th1n the frame 'at 71 upon the fixed side wall of the same.

The forward end of the said locking lever is turned sharply upward to provide a locking spur 72 which may be projected into the path of the breech block and engage against the rear end of the same so as to prevent the rearward movement thereof, and the rear end of this locking lever is provided with a flat face 73 adapted to be engaged by the upper tooth or extremity 7 L of a, tumbler 75 which is carried by the inner end of a' rock shaft 77 journaled in the side wall of the stock or frame and having its lower end 76 adapted to extend into the path of the stop shoulder 63 of the trigger and bear against the same so that inward movement of the trigger will be prevented. The rock shaft 77 is so located that the tumbler will fit around the heel of the sear and the intermediate portion of the tumbler is reduced or cut-away so as to accommodate said heel. On the outer end of the rock shaft is an operatin crank 77 which is disposed at the outer side of the frame and is movable over indicating characters provided upon the side of the frame whereby it may be known whether the partsare in the firing relation or locked against operation. A spring 78 is secured within the frame and bears upon the rear end of the locking lever 70 and tends to throw the front end of said lever up into the path of the breech block. In the drawings, the parts are shown in the firing relation. If the rock shaft 77 be rocked so as to. throw the tooth 74: forward the tooth 76 will be thrown rearwardly and bear upon the stop shoulder 63 of the trigger, while the spring 78 will at once depress the rear end of the locking lever and cause the spur 72 at the front end thereof to engage the rear end of the breech block, the normal position of the parts being as illustrated with the tumbler out of the path of the stop shoulder 63 and with its upper end bearing against the rear end of the locking lever so as to hold said end raised against the tension of the spring 78. When the safety device is set to prevent firing, the breech block cannot move rearwardly nor can the trigger be pushed inwardly, 50 that the hammer can not be released and, consequently, the weapon can not be discharged.

In loading the weapon, the cover 43 is swung outwardly so as to disclose the loading slot in the side plate 4. The cartridges are then placed singly through the said slot onto the lifter and then pushed forwardly into the magazine, the magazine being intended to accommodate four cartridges ordinarily. A fifth cartridge may be placed upon the lifter and the breech block then manually retracted so as to operate the lifter and cause the said cartridge to assume the position indicated in Fig. 3, in advance of the breech block. This rearward movement of the breech blockwill swing the hammer into cocked position where it will be held by the engagement of the sear, as will be read- 'ily understood, and the block may then be permitted to come forward so aS to push the cartridge into the barrel and at the same time lower the lifter. The safety device may then be set in locked position after which a sixth cartridge may be placed in position upon the lifter. The weapon will then be ready for firing upon releasing the safety device and may be fired as rapidly as the trigger can be manipulated. To fire the weapon, a pull is exerted upon the trigger which releases the sear from the hammer whereupon the hammer swings forward and strikes the firing pin. The trigger immediately drops the sear which then returns to the position in which it may engage the hamniller and hold the same cocked for another s ot.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that I have provided a very compact and simple weapon which will be neat and attractive in appearance and will be free of superfluous parts.

within the frame spaced rearwardly from the barrel and having a vertical slot in its upper portion, a stop at the upper end of the web, a magazine disposed below the barrel, a lifter pivoted within the frame in rear of the web and extending through the slot therein to receive a cartridge from the magazine, a breech block slidably mounted in the frame in axial alinement with the barrel, means for raising the lifter whereby a cartridge will be carried from the magazine to position between the barrel and the breech block, a finger rising from the lifter in advance of its pivot and in rear of the web and adapted to engage against the stop at the upper end of the web, the end of said finger bearing against the under side of the breech block and the breech block being provided with a lug on its under side at its rear end to ride on the end of said finger, and a spring secured to the lifter and bearing upon the base of the slot in the web whereby to raise the lifter as the breech block is retracted.

' 2, an automatic firearm, the combination of frame, a barrel projecting forardly fr :2. the frame, a breech block slidmou l. in the frame in axial alinement with the barrel, a firing pin carried by the breech block, a hammer pivoted in the frame below the barrel and having its upper end arranged to impinge against the firing pin, a scar pivoted intermediate its ends in rear of the hammer and having its front end arranged to engage the lower end of the hammer, a spring pressed pawl housed in the rear end of the sear and slidable lon gitudinally thereof, means for retaining said awl in the rear end of the sear, and a trigger slidably mounted in the frame below and movable across the rear end of the sear and provided on its front side with a lug constructed to engage said pawl and actuate the sea on inward movement the trigger over said pawl on downward of the trigger.

a an automatic firearm, the combinaef a frame, a recoil-operated breech block mounted therein and carrying a firing pin, a hammer mounted in'the frame below the breech block to actuate the firing pin, the recoil of the breech block cooking the hammer, an upwardly sliding trigger arranged in rear of the hammer for releasing the same, a locking lever pivoted between and i movem its ends within the frame below the breech block and in rear-of the hammer and having its forward end arranged to bear against the rear end of the breech block and hold the same in its forward position, and means within the frame acting on the rear end of the locking lever to swing the lever into engagement with the breech block, said means being also arranged to directly engage the upper portion of the trigger and lock the same against inward movement.

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a recoil-retracted breech block, a hammer pivoted below the same and cooperating therewith, an upwardly and in wardly sliding trigger mounted in rear of the hammer for releasing the same, a locking lever pivoted between its ends in rear of the hammer and below the breech block and having its front end arranged to engage the rear end of the breech block and hold it in its forward position, a tumbler between the locking lever and the trigger and having one end operatively engaging the rear end of the locking lever to swing the lever into engagement with the breech block and its opposite end arranged to directly engage the trigger and lock it against inward movement, and means for setting the tumbler.

5. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel projecting therefrom, a recoil-retracted breech block slidably mounted in the frame, a hammer cooperating with the breech block, a scar mounted below and in rear of the hammer to engage the same, a trigger disposed below and in rear of the sear and constructed to operate the same, a-locking lever pivoted intermediate its ends within the frame and having its front end arranged to project in rear of the breech block and prevent movement thereof, means acting on the rear end of said lever tending to hold it in engagement with the breech block, a rock shaft mounted in the side of the frame below the rear end of said lever, and a tumbler carried by the inner end of said rock shaft and having one end acting upon the rear end of the lever to hold it out of engagement with the breech block and its opposite end arranged to engage the trigger to hold the same against movement, said tumbler being disposed adjacent the rear end of the sear and constructed with a recess to receive the end of the sear.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALVIE R. MARTIN. [n 5.] 

